13th Battalion, Alabama Partisan Rangers (13th Battalion, Alabama Cavalry)
- 13th Battalion Partisan Rangers, organized during the early fall of 1862, contained four companies, A thru D.. It was assigned to the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, and first served as scouts and pickets.
Company E was organized April 30, 1863. Captain Bibbs Company (probably Company F) was organized April 30, 1863, by transfers from other Companies. Company A was transferred to the 22nd (Barteau’s) Regiment Tennessee Cavalry about June 8, 1863, and formed the First Company H until the latter part of June when it was transferred to the 56th Regiment Alabama Partisan Rangers as Company L. The remainder of this Battalion was consolidated with the Fifteenth Battalion Alabama Partisan Rangers on June 8, 1863, to form the regiment subsequently known as the 56th Regiment Alabama Partisan Rangers.
- With about 250 men, it fought at King’s Creek near Tupelo, Mississippi under General Ruggles:
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MAY 5, 1863.–Action at King’s Creek, near Tupelo, Miss. OKOLONA, MISS., May 7, 1863.
No. 3.–Report of Maj. W. A. Hewlett, Thirteenth Alabama Battalion, Partisan Rangers.CAPTAIN: I have the honor to state, for the information of the brigadier-general commanding First District, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, that on Thursday, May 5, at about 11 a.m., while encamped about 4 miles west of Verona, I received orders to proceed at once to Verona, intelligence having been received that the enemy had driven in Major [W. M.] Inge’s pickets in the neighborhood of Tupelo. On my arrival at Verona, the column moved toward Tupelo, Colonel [J.] Cunningham in front. My command, which consisted of detachments of four companies (about 140 in all), constituted the left wing. The enemy’s pickets were driven in about 1 mile from the scene of action. In the neighborhood of King’s Creek, one-half mile west of Tupelo, while my command was crossing a large corn-field, Colonel Cunningham drove in the enemy’s advance guard, and immediately crossed the creek and proceeded into the heavy timber on the opposite side. My command followed with as little delay as possible, considering the difficulty of fording, and proceeded into the wood about 100 yards in the rear of Colonel Cunningham. Colonel Cunningham pushed on in pursuit of the enemy’s advance guard, without drawing the fire of his main body, which was in ambush. On reaching a ridge about 100 yards from the creek, I first received the fire from the enemy’s left wing, at a distance of from 25 to 40 yards. I returned the fire and dismounted my right wing. Several of the horses of my left becoming unmanageable, they faltered. The enemy raised a yell and attempted a charge, but were held in check by my right wing.At this time Lieutenant-Colonel [C. R.]Barteau came to my assistance on the right; poured a volley into the enemy, driving him back about 200 yards, to a more advantageous position. The firing then commenced from their whole line, with three pieces of artillery, two making a cross fire from each wing and one from the center. It is said by those at a distance they fired 40 rounds from each gun. Just before the firing ceased, Colonel Barteau informed me that two regiments were attempting a flank movement on the left, and ordered me to recross the creek and form on the opposite side, which I did under a heavy fire. I was here joined by two rear companies of the Second Alabama, which were cut off. After crossing the creek, the firing ceased along the whole line, and Colonel Barteau came out a few minutes afterward. I then moved with Colonel Barteau’s command to Chesterville, 1 miles west of Tupelo, and continued driving in the enemy’s pickets and skirmishing until night.
My loss is 1 killed, 3 wounded, and 2 missing. I also lost 12 horses Without attaching too much importance to the affair, I consider it my duty to mention Capt. Jacob R. Shepherd, First Lieut. Samuel P. Morrow, and First Lieut H. H. Bibb as worthy of praise for gallant and meritorious conduct.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. A. HEWLETT, Major, Commanding.
Capt. L. D. SANDIDGE, Acting Assistant Adjutant and Inspector General.
- On June 8, 1863 Hewlett’s command combined with the 15th Alabama Partisan Ranger Battalion to form the 56th Alabama Partisan Ranger Regiment as confirmed by the Adjutant and Inspector General July 8, 1863. The unit was commanded by Major William A. Hewlett.
Officers of Company E
MOORE, James H. – Captain
MORROW, S.P. – 1st Lieutenant
ARMSTRONG, Henry S. – 2nd Lieutenant
GAINES, James P. – 2nd Lieutenant
Roster of Company E
Unless otherwise noted, these men enlisted on April 7, 1863, at what was then called “Fayette Courthouse,” the seat of Fayette County, Alabama.
ALLEN, G.W. – Private
ARMSTRONG, H.S. – 2nd Lieutenant
ATKINS, W.B. – Private
ATKINS, W.C. – Private – Enlisted May 18, 1867 [sic] at Aberdeen, Mississippi
BAILEY, J.W.R. – Sergeant
BAKER, J.B. – Private
BAKER, L.G. – Private
BANKSTON, Henry – Private
BANKSTON, Jourden – Corporal
BERRY, G.R. – Private
BIRD, Isaiah C. – ? – Enlisted ?
BLEVEN, W. – Private
BOBO, B.F. – Private
BOBO, Willis – Private
BRANYON, H.M. – Private
BURGIN, J. – Private
CARTER, S.N. – Private
CLANTON, Gillam – Private
COOPER, T.E. – Private
CRANFORD, John – Private
CROW, J.R. – Private
DENNIS, Robert – Private
DICKINSON, Peyton J. – Private
DUNCAN, W.L. – Private
ENGLISH, Ezekiel H. – ? – Enlisted ?
ESTES, F.M. – Private
FARQUHAR, James – Private
FIELDS, D.J. – Private
FORD, W.M. – Private
GARDNER, James – Private
GRIFFIN, Garit – Private
HAMNER, C.A. – Private
HINDMAN, Hiram – Private
HOWTON, G.W. – Private
JACKSON, J.J. – Private
JAMES, J.P. – 2nd Lieutenant – Enlisted at Fayette Courthouse ~ (same as James P. GAINES listed as Officer above?)
JOHN, G.H. – Private
JOHNSON, Fed – Private
JORDAN, Henry – Private
KIMBRELL, G.W. – Private
KIZZIAH, Alexander – Private
KNIGHT, B.P. – Private
KNIGHT, J.J. – Private
LEGG, Gustavus – Private
LIVINGSTON, J.J. – Private
LOWE, T.W. – Private
MATHES, G.W. – Private
MATHES, John – Private
McCLURE, B.F. – Private
McNEAL, E.E. – Private
McNIECE, H.C. – Private
MOORE, J.A. – Private
MOORE, James H. – Captain – Enlisted April 7, 1863
MOORE, E. – 1st Sergeant
MORROW, S.P. – 1st Lieutenant
MUSGROVES, John – Private
NEWMAN, B. – Private
NEWMAN, James – Private
NEWMAN, William – Private
OTTS, P.A. – Private
PANTER, Richard – Private
PHILIPS, Meridith – Private
PINKERTON, John – Corporal
PRICE, W.M. – Private – Enlisted April 30, 1863, at Fayetteville, Alabama
RAINWATER, S.M. – Sergeant
SCISOM, Joseph – Private
SCOTT, Sam N. – Private
SHOOPERT, David – Private
SMITH, S.J.- Private
SOUTH, R.F. – Private
STAMPS, John – Private
STANLEY, J.M. – Private
STILLMAN, Joseph – Sergeant
TAYLOR, John J. – Private
THOMPSON, Thomas J. – Private
TIDWELL, S.P. – Private
WALTERS, John L. – Private
WHITSON, James – Private
WILLBANKS, A. – Private
WILLIAMS, W.T. – Private
WOOTEN, Robert – Corporal